tvOS 18 Update Overview

New Features

Enhanced Siri Integration

• Use Siri to play specific parts of Apple TV shows.
  • Example: "Siri, play Maxine, roll the dice on Apple TV, season 1, episode 4, 30 minutes in."

Insight Section for Apple TV Shows

• Available while using Apple TV remote or iPhone as remote.
• Shows information on actors, character names, and background songs.
• Songs can be directly added to Apple Music playlists.

Enhanced Dialogue Feature

• Boosts voices/speech relative to other sounds.
• Accessible via remote: Swipe up, go to mid icon, select enhanced dialogue.
• Uses machine learning for clarity.
• Works with TV speakers, receivers, Apple audio devices (AirPods, HomePods).

Gesture Control with AirPods

• Nod for Yes, Shake head for No during incoming calls.
• Auto-enable subtitles when audio is muted.
• Subtitles auto-enabled if skipping backward in a show
• Siri command: "What did I just say" rolls back video by 10 seconds with subtitles.

Robot Vacuum Support

• Integrated via HomeKit and home hub support.

Aspect Ratio Support

• New 21:9 aspect ratio support for wide projectors.
• Settings → Video and Audio → Aspect Ratio.

Screen Saver & Photos

• New portrait section for screen savers.
• Syncs best portrait photos using machine learning from your device.
• New Snoopy screen saver option.

Redesigned Fitness Plus App

• Select up to five activities for personalized recommendations.
• Main sections: For You, Explore, Rivalry, Stack.
• Promoted workouts and activity selections.

Energy Usage Monitoring

• Monitor home energy usage through PG&E partnership.

On-Device Siri Processing

• Faster responses, no need for constant internet communication for basic requests.

Reintroduced Features

• SharePlay: in the music app, allows others to scan QR code and be a DJ without needing an Apple Music subscription.

FaceTime Updates

• Supports live captions during calls.
• Prompts for landscape mode, Center Stage supported.

Home Application Updates

• Manually change automatic Hub selection in Home app.

Minor Photos App Updates

• Shows libraries and albums more accurately.
• Enhanced color prominence and vividness in various apps.

Compatibility & Support

• Supports devices up to 9 years old (2015 Apple TV HD or newer).

Interaction Call to Action

• Encourages comments and subscriptions for further feature coverage.